Peters



'(No Model.) 7

G. M. HATHAWAY.

MACHINE FOR-CUTTING CIGAR WRAPPBRS.

No. 420,452. Patented ,Feb. 4, 189.

n PETERS, mmumo hu. Walhingtnm n c UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE M. I-IATHAVVAY, OF NE? YORK, N. Y.

MACHINE FOR CUTTING CIGAR-WRAPPERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,452, dated February4, 1890.

Application filed May '7, 1887. Renewed May 25, 1889- Serial No.312,067. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. HATHAWAY, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York, in the county of New York,- State ofv New York,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines forCutting Cigar-Wrappers and other Articles, of which the following is aspecification, reference being had therein to the ac companyingdrawings,

This invention has relation to a machine for cutting various materialsinto shapes such as glove-blanks, cigar wrappers and binders, and otherarticles; and the object of the invention is to produce a machine whichinvolves a like mode of operation to that practiced when cutting sucharticles by hand. In other words, the object of the invention is toproduce a machine which will cut blanks, wrappers, and similar articleswith a shearing cut, in cont-radistinction to that action which a-cutterhas when reciprocated or depressed against the material, whereby suchcutter partakes of the nature of a punch.

A machine embodying my invention also differs in its mode of operationfrom any in which a rocking motion is given to the cutter while upon thematerial, which is stationary.

The operation of my machine involves a movement of both the cutter andthe material being out, the former, however, having during the operationa slightly greater speed in its movement than the material, whereby ashearing effect is given in the operation of the cutter. However, inproducing the tip end of a wrapper for a cigar, it is preferable thatthe material be subjected to as slight (if any) longitudinal strain aspossible. I therefore provide a subordinate but novel feature ofconstruction wherein this requirement is satisfied.- I

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear in thefollowing description, and the novel features thereof will beparticularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, with partsbroken away, of a machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2is an endelevation, with parts in section. Fig. 3 is an outline of the knife orcutter laid flat.

Like letters indicate like parts in all the figures.

A represents any suitable base, upon which is'mounted in any suitablemanner for reciprocation a bed B. The bed in this instance is formed toembrace the edges of an opening A, running lengthwise of the bed andsubstantially centrally therealong. A coiled spring O is arranged underthe bed, and one of the ends of the spring is secured to the,

bed or to a lug O, projecting therefrom, while the other end of thespring is secured to the base or to a lug projecting therefrom, as at CSuitable bosses A are provided at the base and perforated for thepassage of securing-bolts, by which the machine may be firmly fixed upona bench or table.

Formed as a part of or secured to the bed B is a rack-bar D, whichextends along one side of the bed,-for the purpose of moving the bed inone direction, in a manner hereinafter described. A facing or cushion Bis arranged upon the bed, and it may be of any suitable material whichwill permit of the contact of the cutter without injury to said cutter.Leather, wood, or rubber may be mentioned as examples of a materialsuited to the purpose in view. The rack-bar is arranged at a distancefrom the bed and connected thereto by a web or rib D, having a flange Dwhich abuts against the bed, and through which screws or bolts D may bepassed into the bed for securing the rack thereto. If desired, however,the rack may be made, as before stated, as a part of the bed.

At or near one end of the base standards A are arranged and providedwith bearings A for the cutter-shaft E. Upon the cuttershaft is mounteda geared sector F, which meshes with the rack-bar D. As shown at D, theteeth of the rack-bar are at one end of the bed depressed below theplane of the remaining teeth thereof, and the teeth F of the gearedsector F are at one end thereof projected beyond the remaining teeth Fthereof. Upon the face of a quadrant H, mounted on the shaft E, thecutter G is secured in any suitable manner.

pressed teeth D of the rack-bar and the cutting-edge of the cutter arenearly or substantially in the same horizontal plane when side bysidethat is to say, the distance from the center of the cutter-shaft tothe extreme edge of the cutter-is substantially the same,

The dethough slightly greater than the distance from the center of saidshaft to the depressed teeth of the rackbar, while the remaining teeth Fof the sector and the remaining teeth of the rack-bar D are nearer thecenter of said shaft than the extreme edge of the cutter. It thereforefollows that there is a greater surface speed at the edge of the cutterthan at a point 011 the face of the bed opposite anyof the more elevatedteeth of the rack-bar, while the surface speeds of the cutter and thetop of the bed are more nearly equal along that portion of the bed wherethe depressed teeth D of the rack-bar and the projected teeth F of thesector occur.

The outline of the cutter agrees with that of the article to beproduced. The cutter in this instance,being for a cigar-wrapper, agreesin outline with the wrapper. The cutter G consists of steel bladesG,provided with attaching-clips G projecting inwardly therefrom,

and having slots G through which screws G are passed into the face ofthe quadrant H, which may or may not with greaterorless accuraey conformto the outline of the cutter. By means of the slots G in thesecuringclips the blades'may be arranged nearer to or fartherfrom eachother to produce narrower or wider wrappers, as desired. At the head theblades are curved to constitute the tip cutting portion G thereof, andthe sector, the cutter thereon, and the bed are so relativelyarrangedthat the tip-cutting portion G of the knife acts when theprojected teeth of the sector and the depressed teeth of the bed areco-operating, whereby the surface speeds of the movement of the bed andof the cutter are practically equal while said tip portion is being cut,and therefore longitudinal or any other strain having a tendency torupture or tear the wrapper is avoided during this portion of theoperation of cutting the same. After the tip portion is cut and duringthe remaining movements of the cutter and bed the surface speed of thebed is a trifle less than the speed of the extreme edge of the cutter,so that a shearing nature is given to the cut.

The operation of the invention will be understood when it is stated thatwhen cutting ciganwrappcrs the attendant places upon the bed and uponthe facing or cushion thereof one or more leaves from which wrappers areto be cut, and, while holding the margins of the leaves by the handsagainst the bed outside of the cutting lines thereof or against the webconnecting the rack with the bed, pushes said bed against the tension ofthe spring 0, being aided in this action by any suitable projection Dformed on the web, if desired, and thus givingmotion by means of therackbar and segment to the cutter until the wrapper is severed by thecutter. The spring C then acts to return the bed, the sector, and

the cutter for a repetition of the operation.

The standards A, together with the shaft,

constitute an arch, whereby suflicient space is provided at each side ofthe bed to permit of the passage of thehands and forearms in the act ofpushing the bed while holding the material for the purpose of cuttingwrappers therefrom.

To enable an adjustment of the cutter to and from the bed, I may provideeach of the standards A with lugs A in which adj usting-screws I areseated, to take bearing on the base A. The screws or bolts J J passthrough the standards into the base. One screw or bolt J serves as apivot, and the other screw or bolt passes through a slot J in thestandard, whereby the bearings A may be adjusted at different heightsabove the bed, and thus the cutter be made to approach more or lessnearly to or to come into contact with the bed.

What I claim is- 1.' In a machine for cutting wrappers, a movablewrappersupporting bed and cutter, in combination with changeablespeed-gearing arranged and operating to .give the cutter and bed auniform speed during the first portion of their travel and to give thecutter a greater speed than the bed during the remainder-of theirtravel, substantially as specitied.

2. The combination, with a bed and a rackbar connected therewith andhaving a portion of its teeth depressed, of a sector having a portion ofits teeth projected,substantially as shown and described.

In combination with a bed provided with a' rack-bar having a portion ofits teeth depressed, a sector having a portion of its teeth projected,and a curved knife supported concentrically with the sector and havingits tip-cutting portion arranged to operate with the projected anddepressed teeth, substantially as specified.

4. The combination of a sector and a quadrant, both mounted on a shaft,a cutter mounted on the quadrant, a reciprocating bed having a rack-barmeshing with the sector, and a spring for giving the bed movement in onedirection, substantially as specitied.

5. The combinatiomwith a movable wrapper-supporting bed provided with arackbar, and with a cutter and sector mounted upon a shaft arrangedacross the bed, of outwardly-curved standards for supporting the shaftand permitting the coaction of the sector and rack-bar inside of thestandards, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

6. The combination of the movable bed with the rack-bar connectedtherewith and provided with a web D and base A, the sector, thequadrant, and the cutter, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE M. HATIIAVVAY.

Witnesses:

J. IIALsEY IIAIGHT, J osEPH II. GARDNER.

